The speed camera, on the A338 near East Hanney in Oxfordshire appears undamaged, unlike the car.

Police first spotted the blue Astra at 0420 GMT on Sunday, and have, as yet, been unable to trace the driver.

You see so many traffic accidents where people manage to hit the only tree around, it's a bit cruel to suggest they did it deliberately Inspector Kendall, Thames Valley Police

They refused to speculate on whether the car had been deliberately driven into the speed camera.

Inspector Kendall, of Thames Valley Police said even though there were not many speed cameras on that stretch of road, it did not mean it had been targeted.

"You see so many traffic accidents where people manage to hit the only tree around, it's a bit cruel to suggest they did it deliberately.

"It's not uncommon for people to abandon cars after an accident, it could be for any number of reasons."